The victory by Hamas in recent Palestinian legislature elections makes the churches' engagement in the Holy Land even more crucial, a Palestinian Christian leader has said.

 

"The victory by Hamas in recent Palestinian legislature elections makes the churches' engagement in the Holy Land even more crucial," a Palestinian Christian leader has said. "The election is very confusing," the Rev. Naim Ateek, an Anglican and director of Jerusalem's Sabeel Institute, said during a meeting on 14 February at the World Council of Churches ninth assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil. "Hopefully, pressure on Hamas to be responsible in government will help us create a stronger force for non-violence," he said.